PSOA alum Evelyn Patricia Terry and lecturer and alum Yinan Wang were named among five recipients of the 2026 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship for Individual Artists. Terry was selected in the Established Artist category, and Wang was selected in the Emerging Artist category. FVANG Associate Professor Mike Gibisser was also …
Art, MFA MFA
Take your passion for studio art to the next level. With our art masters program, you are supported in your creative pursuits as you advance your skills and prepare for a professional career in art. And you won’t be alone. We are a strong community of artists.
The Art MFA is an excellent fit for those seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in a supportive and collaborative environment. Our program is led by renowned faculty who are active in the art world and committed to helping you achieve your goals. With a low student-to-faculty ratio and dedicated studio space, you’ll receive personalized mentorship and room to create as you grow as an artist and develop your own artistic voice.
Program Type
Master’s
Program Format
On Campus
What it’s like to be an Art MFA student at Peck School of the Arts
As a graduate student in our art masters program, your artistic home will be the Peck School of the Arts’ Kenilworth Square East (KSE) building, a research facility approximately one mile from campus. Graduate student studios are located in KSE, which means you can have a dedicated space to do your thing. Plus, you’ll find a full schedule of exhibitions, workshops and special lectures for endless inspiration throughout the year.
But don’t take our word for it. Experience for yourself what it is like to be an art MFA student here by scheduling a personalized tour with one of our graduate program coordinators.
Art MFA Program Details
Our art masters program gives you a well-rounded education that combines traditional techniques with innovative approaches to art. You’ll have the opportunity to explore various media and processes while engaging with other disciplines and the local, national and international community. We’re committed to embracing diverse ideas and fostering an experimental attitude, in line with contemporary art practices. Our department encourages and supports engagement beyond traditional boundaries to help you grow as an artist and professional.
Explore the Art, MFA requirements in the Academic Catalog.
Art & Design Studio Disciplines
Led by expert artist faculty, our art and design studio disciplines are content areas that provide focus to your creative research, practice and degree. We offer the following studio disciplines: Ceramics, Creative Technologies, Design, Digital Fabrication, Fibers, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Painting & Drawing, Photography & Imaging, Printmaking & Book Arts and Sculpture.
Scholarships & Aid
UW-Milwaukee and Peck School of the Arts offers a variety of cost-saving opportunities, including scholarships, grants, fellowships and residency-based tuition rates. Learn more about scholarship and aid opportunities available to you.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate students may be eligible to receive a Teaching or Project Assistantship, which includes full tuition remission, annual stipend, and affordable state health coverage through the University.
Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series
Throughout the fall and spring semesters, the Artists Now! Guest Lecture Series welcomes a diverse group of nationally and internationally recognized artists working across traditional, hybrid and emergent disciplines. Join us to explore and expand boundaries of creative visual practices alongside others with an interest in contemporary visual art.
Galleries & Exhibitions
Our art and design programs host many galleries and exhibitions both on campus and throughout the community. Our campus is home to four permanent art galleries, each with its own unique mission. All of them are free, open to the public and accessible for everyone to enjoy.
Milwaukee is also home to dozens of galleries and museums. All students in an art and design degree program receive a free annual membership to the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM). That means you can visit MAM and its events, including the popular MAM After Dark series, free of charge while you are a student.
Internships & Opportunities
Students work and intern professionally with Milwaukee’s leading art museums and galleries, creative agencies, corporations and nonprofits. They also find internships across the country and beyond. Discover where your education can take you. Learn more about internships and opportunities.
Student Organizations & Clubs
Meet like-minded people in a wide variety of student organizations and clubs who inspire creativity and will support your aspirations. Collaborate and create, network with professional artists, and deepen your connection with faculty, mentors and fellow students outside of the classroom.
Study Abroad
We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.
Art & Design Alumni Stories
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Two PSOA alums receive 2026 Nohl Fellowships
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Children’s book illustrator refines their craft at UWMAs a kid growing up in southern California, Pavonis Giron dreamed of being an illustrator for the likes of Pixar and Nickelodeon. “I was trying to put together the skills I needed to work at those studios one day… drawing characters, doing background color studies, working on draftsmanship,” Giron said. …
Art & Design Careers
- 3D Animator / Modeler
- Advertising Director
- Animator
- App Developer
- Art Critic / Writer
- Art Dealer
- Art Director
- Art Gallery Owner
- Art Historian
- Art Therapist
- Artisan Solutionist
- Artist in Residence
- Artists’ Agent
- Arts Administrator
- Augmented Reality Designer
- Blacksmith
- Ceramicist
- Commercial Artist
- Community Artist
- Community Organizer
- Consultant
- Costume Designer
- Creative Services Manager
- Curator
- Design Manager
- Designer
- Director of Community Engagement
- Educator
- Entrepreneur
- Exhibit Designer
- Fabricator
- Fashion Designer
- Fine Artist
- Floral Designer
- Font Designer
- Freelance Artist
- Furniture Designer / Restorer
- Game Designer
- Graphic Designer
- Graphic Artist
- Illustrator
- Industrial Designer
- Interactive Designer
- Interior Designer
- Jewelry Designer / Maker
- Lighting Designer
- Makeup Artist
- Marketing & Sales Director
- Metalsmith
- Mixed Media Artist
- Muralist
- Museum Director
- Packaging Designer
- Painter
- Photographer
- Photographic Stylist
- Photographic Technician
- Printmaker
- Product Designer
- Production Artist
- Program Director / Coordinator
- Prop Maker
- Public Artist
- Public Relations Director
- Sculptor
- Set Designer
- Sketch Artist
- Stylist
- Technical Designer, Apparel
- Textile Designer
- Toy Maker
- User Experience / User Interface Designer
- Visual Merchandiser
- Visual / Special Effects Artist
- Web Designer / Developer
Art MFA Program Faculty
Which faculty you have within this program is dependent upon your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all Art & Design faculty and staff please click the button below.
- Professor, Fibers
- Graduate Program Representative, Art & Design
- Area Head, Fibers
- cho@uwm.edu
- 414-251-7616
- Art Building 478B
- Associate Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- grame@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4258
- Art Building 430B
- Associate Professor, Digital Fabrication & Design
- Associate Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Area Head, Digital Fabrication & Design
- hawk@uwm.edu
- Art Building 430B
- Professor, Jewelry & Metalsmithing
- Area Head, Jewelry & Metalsmithing
- yk@uwm.edu
- Art Building 358
- Assistant Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- larsenw@uwm.edu
- Kenilworth Square East 545
- Teaching Faculty II, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Digital Fabrication & Design
- Studio Technician, Jewelry & Metalsmithing
- Department Safety Coordinator and Technician, Art & Design
- meierea@uwm.edu
- Art Building 358
- Associate Professor (on sabbatical 2025-26), Printmaking & Book Arts
- Area Head, Printmaking & Book Arts
- meuninck@uwm.edu
- 414-229-3753
- Art Building 319
- Professor, Design & Visual Communication
- Co-Area Head, Design & Visual Communication
- lmoline@uwm.edu
- Art Building 417
- Associate Professor (on sabbatical 2025-26), Photography & Imaging
- Area Head, Photography & Imaging
- mougel@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6296
- Mitchell Hall B84
- Associate Professor (on sabbatical fall 2025), Painting & Drawing
- Co-Chair, Department of Art & Design
- Area Head, Painting & Drawing
- piehl@uwm.edu
- Mitchell Hall 329
- Professor, Creative Technologies / Mechanical Engineering
- Co-Chair, Department of Art & Design
- Director, Academic Engagement and Creative Impact
- Executive Director, Autism Brilliance Lab for Entrepreneurship
- sternn@uwm.edu
- 414-251-6004
- Kenilworth Square East 535
- Associate Professor, Sculpture
- Area Head, Sculpture
- williagw@uwm.edu
- 414-229-6862
- Art Building B31
